When do you need to repair your alternator?

Don’s Auto Repair perform some of the best alternator repair and replacement services in California. Known for our home-based values and providing extended services to our customers, Don’s are a proven name in the automobile mechanics industry for several decades now.
Your car’s alternator could die with little or no warning at all. Every time you start your car, you rely on the starter. The engine jumpstarts when the flywheel spins as the starter takes power from the battery. The battery, in turn, gets its power from the alternator, which is subject to recharge on a continuous basis. When the alternator is worn out, it could lead to a dead battery.
How does the alternator work?
Located right above the engine, the battery draws power from the alternator and gets charged. This maintains the functionality of the car’s electrical systems and other devices attached to it. Where the battery is responsible for starting up the car, it is the alternator’s job to keep it running. Typically an alternator lasts anywhere between 6 to 7 years and between 80,000 about 100,000 miles. The prolonged performance of the alternator is dependent on several factors:
The part’s brand quality
Driving conditions of the car
The number of electronics being used inside the car

Symptoms of alternator failure:

Your alternator needs a repair or a replacement when you experience the following:

Starting trouble: If the car does not start easily and requires several turns then it could be indicative of an alternator wear out. The brushes are not touching the coil at all the points or it is a malfunction of the voltage regulator.

Accessory lights are dimmed out: The dome lights, headlights, and dash lights are dimmer than usual. When you press on the accelerator they can dim and brighten several times or can blink slowly.

The smell of burnt rubber: This is quite a common sign, but still does not occur very often. The belt on the alternator does not rotate freely on the pulleys causing friction and producing heat. When it gets really hot, it may start to smell like burnt rubber.

Besides the above, you will also find that the car’s battery seems to be dying intermittently, there is a grinding and whining noise and the dashboard also shows an alternator warning light.

If you see any of the above signs, visit Don’s Auto Repair immediately for an alternator testing. We use high-quality voltmeters to test them.